Homily: Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
John 6:51-58
18 August 2024
Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez
There are so many good restaurants in the vicinity of PLDM that I did not know about. Over the past several weeks I have been checking out the treats of each, as I get acquainted with the different ministries serving in this parish. Lately I have had breakfast at this nice place five times already but with different groups! Food really is the perfect way to bond with any Filipino. Don’t you agree? Notice that families gather most frequently over a table with shared food, whether it be for a simple fare or for a feast. Filipinos are always eating and they eat with those they like and love.
In our First and Second Readings we have somewhat different perspectives with regard to food and wine (wine being the drink of choice over water. Besides, soda and milk tea were not a thing back then.) In the passage from the Book of Proverbs, food and drink are a means to satisfy and fill a need. It says “to the simple, to those lacking understanding: come eat my food and drink my wine! Forsake foolishness that you may live.” (Proverbs 9:5-6) We are all encouraged to partake of this meal that wisdom has laid out for us. And in the Second Reading we are told not to take too much to the point of getting drunk on the wine. The reason is that we must not be fooled into thinking that food (and other luxuries) is the goal of life. The goal is still to lead God-fearing lives, and to glorify the Lord at all times.
For us Christians today, we continue to gather and grow closer to God and one another through the special meal of the Eucharist. It is a meal that nourishes our souls and our spirituality, strengthening our resolve to choose God and the good at all times. Especially in these days where evil and temptations are all around disguised as the most harmless and enchanting things, we need that strength of spirit and the help of our brothers and sisters to help us recognise dangers and to fight them off. We should not be foolish to think that we can succeed without the Eucharist. This is a gift we should not reject. We need to receive the sacred host as often as we can! Why? Because it is not simply a symbol of Christ, but it is Jesus, Himself! He is the “living bread” — His flesh is real food and His blood is real drink.
In the gospel passage, Jesus tells the crowd that He is the Bread of Life, the true nourishment that our souls need. In Jesus, no one will ever go hungry nor thirsty if that person would come to Him and believe in Him. Jesus says: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:54) As Catholic Christians, we believe that these words of Jesus refer to the Eucharist and we demonstrate this belief each time we receive the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion. When the priest says: “The Body of Christ”, our response is…? (Thank you? Okay?) AMEN! And when we say AMEN, we are saying “Yes, I agree” or “Yes, I believe!” that the host is Jesus! He makes of Himself an everlasting gift to us, especially to those of us who have not had the opportunity to meet Him while He lived and walked this earth. It is not enough for Him that we hear stories about Him, His teachings and all the wonderful miracles He made. He loves us so much that He wants to be so close to us and united to us so He can take care of our souls. He is here at every mass, making Himself available to us through His sacred Body and Blood on the altar.
Through the Eucharist, Jesus continues to sustain, nourish and strengthen us to be true to what we all have become through Him — God’s beloved children. St Augustine once said: “If we receive the Eucharist worthily, we become what we receive.” Even nutritionists today tell us we are what we eat. So, we have to come to mass as frequently as we can and receive Jesus with as much love as we can muster in our heart. The more we receive Jesus in the eucharistic celebration, the more we become like Him and gain more strength to resist temptations in life. He is also food for our souls that we may have strength to make the right choices. In fact, when people feel sad, afraid or really tired because of their problems, many choose to go to mass to draw strength from Jesus — they listen to His Word and receive Him in the Eucharist.
To receive Jesus is truly a gift but receiving Him in the Eucharist is also a challenge to be eucharistic persons, ourselves. What does this mean? It means that as we are nourished by Jesus we are challenged to manifest Jesus to others. Other people should see Jesus working in us. To receive Him is to be united with Him. This union with Jesus helps us to order all our thoughts and actions around what is important to Jesus — being there for other people.
Finally, let us remember that in Holy Communion, we are joined to Jesus in a special way each time we receive His Body and Blood. Moreover, this will give us the strength to inspire others by our good behaviour and good works and prove that Jesus is the living bread that came down from heaven who continues to live through each and every one of us.
By And Gheorghiu
Sunday Gospel Reflections 